William E. Davidson (1883)

DAVIDSON, HOLLIDAY

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 9/9/2007 at 08:57:31

Winterset Madisonian - April 18, 1883
Winterset, Iowa
page 3

HORRIBLE DEATH OF AN EARLY SETTLER OF MADISON COUNTY

The following account of the death of an early settler of Madison county is taken from the Nobelsville, Indiana REPUBLICAN:

We are called upon this week to record the death of Wm. E. Davidson under the most painful and distressing circumstances. Being old, and desirous of passing away a portion of his time, he went to a saw mill, near Cynthian school house, last Friday afternoon and was watching the workmen turn out the lumber. The old gentleman was near-sighted, and while walking around in the mill he made a mis-step and fell against the running saw which mangled him up in a most frightful manner. His right arm was cut off, his left hand torn off, his neck cut and torn on both sides and his whole body badly bruised and mangled. The accident occurred about five o'clock in the afternoon. All possible assistance was rendered by the attending surgeons. Dr. Stewart amputating his arm sometime in the evening, but there was little hopes at any time of his recovery. Early Saturday morning Mr. Davidson died and was buried on Sunday. At the time Mr. Davidson received his fatal injuries he was 82 years, 1 month and 17 days old. During his life he has acted as a Justice of the Peace for a period of four years, and has always been regarded as an honest, upright and honorable citizen. So passed away another pioneer of the State, so full of years and good deeds, and ripe for the harvest of death. Our sympathies are extended to the family and friends in their sad hour of bereavement.

Mr. Davidson came to this county in 1856 and for some time resided with Mr. Lindsay, whose home was one mile east of Winterset, where the writer now resides. He afterward married Mrs. Holliday, the mother of S. L. Holliday, with whom most of our readers are familiar. After his marriage, which occured some twenty years ago, Mr. Davidson returned to Indiana where he has since lived and where he met with his horrible death.